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Short Abstract

Next Generation Lab turns archaeological leather and bone finds into hands-on learning for students. In 2025, it expands to Nuuk, involving Greenlandic youth in studying their heritage and gaining Greenlandic perspectives on past clothing practices.

Abstract

Next Generation Lab turns large and unstudied archaeological leather and bone assemblages into a laboratory learning experience for high school students. The students, in turn, provide species identifications and thus increase knowledge on archaeological materials and specific research questions.

So far, the experience has taken place in Copenhagen, Denmark, but in October 2025, the project travels to Nuuk, Greenland, to work with a Greenlandic high school on Greenlandic archaeological material. The setup has been made possible through knowledge-sharing with local partners on amongst others available equipment, possible language barriers, and potential archaeological material. By involving Greenlandic high school students in research on animal skins from a South Greenlandic mummy find we democratize their cultural heritage which is most often investigated by researchers of other and often Danish heritage. We hope to through the project connect them to their heritage and showcase different career paths within the biology, archaeology and conservation science as well as to gain Greenlandic perspectives on amongst others the use of animal skin in clothing.